Yes, Boss | A Ryeji Rivals Romance

Conflicted Hearts

Yeji had never felt this out of control.

Days passed, and while she threw herself into work, the pull toward Ryujin lingered like an unresolved storm brewing just beneath the surface. She had hoped that the rooftop kiss would be a one-time lapse in judgment, something she could compartmentalize, tuck away in a corner of her mind, and forget about. But every time she saw Ryujin, the memory of that kiss came flooding back, along with the heat that had surged between them.

And it wasn't just physical. It was emotional, too.

Yeji sat in her office, the blinds half-drawn against the late afternoon sun. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional ping of an email notification. She stared blankly at her laptop screen, the words blurring together. No matter how hard she tried to focus, her thoughts kept circling back to Ryujin.

The competition was still ongoing. They were still rivals. But now, everything felt different.

Before, it had been simple: outshine Ryujin, prove herself the best candidate for the presidency, and secure her future at the company. But now, the lines between personal and professional had blurred, and Yeji was struggling to keep them separate. She had always prided herself on her ability to stay in control, to focus on the bigger picture. But Ryujin had changed that, made her question things she had never questioned before.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, sitting up straighter in her chair.

The door opened, and to her surprise, it wasn't an assistant or a colleague. It was Ryujin.

Yeji's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening at the sight of her. Ryujin stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable, though there was a hint of something in her eyes—something softer, more vulnerable than usual.

"Do you have a minute?" Ryujin asked, her voice quieter than usual.

Yeji hesitated, her mind racing. She should say no, should shut this down before it got even more complicated. But instead, she found herself nodding. "Yeah. Come in."

Ryujin closed the door behind her and crossed the room, her footsteps soft against the polished floor. She didn't sit down; instead, she stood by the window, staring out at the cityscape for a moment before speaking.

"I've been thinking," Ryujin began, her voice steady, though Yeji could hear the tension beneath it. "About us."

Yeji's breath caught. She had known this conversation was coming, but now that it was here, she wasn't sure she was ready for it.

Ryujin turned to face her, her eyes locking onto Yeji's. "I know this is complicated. I know we're supposed to be competing, and that the stakes are high. But..." She paused, her expression softening. "I can't stop thinking about you."

Yeji's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid—feelings, emotions, things that could cloud her judgment. But the truth was, she couldn't stop thinking about Ryujin either. No matter how hard she tried to push her away, Ryujin was always there, in her thoughts, in her dreams, in every corner of her mind.

"I can't either," Yeji admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryujin's eyes softened, and she took a step closer. "Then why are we fighting this? Why are we pretending it's not happening?"

Yeji shook her head, feeling a familiar knot of anxiety tighten in her chest. "Because it's dangerous, Ryujin. If anyone finds out—"

"They won't," Ryujin interrupted, her voice firm but not harsh. "We can keep it private. We can figure this out. Together."

Yeji wanted to believe her, wanted to believe that they could somehow navigate this impossible situation without losing everything they had worked for. But the fear of what could happen, of the fallout if they were discovered, weighed heavily on her.

"What if it goes wrong?" Yeji whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "What if we both lose?"

Ryujin stepped even closer, until she was standing right in front of Yeji's desk, her hands resting on the edge as she leaned in slightly. "I don't care about the presidency as much as I care about you."

The words hit Yeji like a punch to the chest. She blinked, shocked by Ryujin's confession. This was more than just attraction, more than the physical chemistry they had been denying. Ryujin was serious—about them, about what they could be together.

"You're saying you'd throw it all away for me?" Yeji asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Ryujin smiled softly, her eyes never leaving Yeji's. "I'm saying that you're more important to me than a title."

Yeji's throat tightened, emotions swirling inside her in a way that felt almost unbearable. She had spent so long keeping her walls up, so long guarding herself against anything that might distract her from her goals. And yet, here was Ryujin, standing in front of her, willing to risk everything for something more.

"Ryujin, I—" Yeji started, but her words faltered. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to navigate this. The fear of losing control, of losing everything she had worked for, gnawed at her. But at the same time, the thought of pushing Ryujin away, of pretending that what they felt wasn't real, made her heart ache.

Ryujin moved around the desk, standing beside Yeji now, her presence both comforting and overwhelming. She reached out, gently taking Yeji's hand in hers, her touch warm and steady.

"You don't have to make any decisions right now," Ryujin said softly. "Just... think about it. Think about what you want. Not what the company wants, not what anyone else wants. Just you."

Yeji's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked up at Ryujin. She had never allowed herself to consider what she wanted—not really. Her entire life had been about ambition, success, and maintaining control. But now, with Ryujin standing in front of her, she couldn't deny that something inside her had shifted.

She squeezed Ryujin's hand, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to do this."

Ryujin smiled, a soft, reassuring smile that made Yeji's heart ache even more. "Neither do I. But we'll figure it out."

For a long moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging in the air between them. Yeji knew she had a decision to make—one that would change everything. But for the first time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to keep fighting her emotions, or if she was ready to embrace the possibility of something more.

"I'll think about it," Yeji finally said, her voice trembling slightly.

Ryujin nodded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. "That's all I'm asking."

As Ryujin left the office, the door clicking shut behind her, Yeji sank back into her chair, her mind racing. She had spent so long building walls around herself, so long keeping people out. But Ryujin had slipped through those walls, and now, she wasn't sure she could go back to the way things were before.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the chair, trying to steady her breathing. For the first time in her career, she didn't know what to do.

And for the first time, Yeji wondered if that was okay.